Trombone



April 25, 1933. w, NEPTUNE TROMBONE Filed Oct. 12, 1951 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES FREDERICK W. NEP'IUNE, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO 0. G. CONN, LTD.,

PATENT OFFICE ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA TROMBONE Application filed October 12, 1931. Serial No. 568,357.

This invention relates to thumb hooks for wind musical instruments, and particularly to trombones.

In the playing of a trombone the players I left hand grasps what is known as the bell brace which connects the bell section. with the bell branch, the thumb of the left hand engaging said brace member adjacent its junction with said bell branch section with considerable force or pressure. Inasmuch as the construction of the bell brace member referred to is designed more for artistic effeet and not at all for the comfort of the players left hand, the continuous use of the instrument results in much discomfort to the players hand and particularly the thumb of the left hand.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a trombone thumb hook which is so located on the instrument that it enables a firm grasp of the instrument without discomfort to the player.

Another object is to provide a trombone thumb hook which is curviform in structure and is located at the junction of the bell brace and the bell branch section of the instrument.

Other objects of the invention are men tioned and described herein.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a trombone to which my invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental view showing the thumb hook and fragments of the bell brace and bell branch section;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fi 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawing.

Referring now to the details of the drawing the numeral 1 indicates the bell section of a trombone of conventional design and which is operatively connected with the bell branch section 2 by the bell bow 3. The bell 50 section 1 and bell branch 2 are rigidly connected together by the transverse tubular braces 4t and 5, the latter of which is known as the bell brace. The usual mouthpiece 6 is operatively mounted on the slide section 7 of the instrument, and the usual slide 8 is operatively connected with the usual telescopic extensions-not shownof instrument sections 2 and 7, as is wellknown in the art.

The numeral 9 indicates ,a thumb hook which is preferably curviform in shape, and which may be made of metal of uniform thickness, the upper portion whereof is soldered, or welded, to the end of the bell brace 5 adjacent its junction with the branch section 2, the lower part of said hook being soldered, or welded, to said bell branch section. Preferably, the hook 9 is concaved on its under side 10 and said concavity conforms to the contour of the parts to which it is soldered, and preferably the hook is most advantageously located between the braces 4' and 5 and adjacent the base of the latter.

To contribute to the comfort of the thumb of the players left hand the outer surface 11 of the hook 9 is convexly formed throughout its curved extent. The upper end of the hook 9 may, and preferably does, curve upward and backward and is slightly out of contact with the brace 5 to provide a hooked element, whereby grasp thereof by the players thumb is greatly facilitated.

At Fig. 4 the thumb hook takes the form of a ring 12 which also is preferably located at the junction of the bell brace 5 and the branch section 2, this form of thumb hook contributing very materially to a grasp of the instrument that is unrestrained and free from undue tension of the muscles of the players left hand and thumb.

I claim:

1. In a trombone having a bell section, a bell branch and a bell brace connecting said bell section with said bell branch, a thumb hook mounted adjacent the lower junction of said bell brace with said bell branch.

2. In a trombone having a bell section, a bell branch, and a bell brace rigidly connecting said bell section with said bell branch, a curved thumb hook mounted adjacent the lower junction of said bell brace with said bell branch, the upper end of said thumb hook being hooked backward.

3. In a trombone having a bell section, a bell branch, and apair of braces rigidly connecting said bell section with said bell branch, a curved thumb hook mounted between said braces and adjacent the lower junction of one of said braces with said bell branch.

4. In a trombone having a bell section, a bell branch, and a bell brace rigidly connecting said bell section with said bell branch, a ring-like thumb hook mounted adjacent the lower junction of said bell brace with said bell branch.

5. In a trombone having a bell section, a bell branch, and a bell brace rigidly connecting said bell section with said bell branch, a ring-like thumb hook mounted upon said bell branch between the latter and the bell section of the instrument and adjacent the lower end of said brace.

FREDERICK \V. NEPTUNE. 

